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Backgrounder: Innovative Biopharmaceutical Industry's Support of STEM Education in the U.S.
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- 2. U.S. It also notes U.S. STEM education funding is declining at a time when other countries are
increasingly investing in STEM education in order to attract innovative R&D industries.
Innovative biopharmaceutical companies and their corporate foundations are making
significant contributions to U.S. STEM education through a broad range of local, state, and
national level programs and initiatives aimed at elementary through post‐secondary
education. Over the past five years, the 24 PhRMA member companies voluntarily reporting,
funded more than 90 individual initiatives focused on students and/or teachers in STEM‐related
fields, the majority of which have been active within the last year.
Over the last five years, PhRMA member company STEM programs have impacted over 1.6
million students and 17,500 teachers across the U.S. On a current annual basis, about 500,000
students and 8,000 teachers participate in STEM education programs supported by PhRMA
members.
PhRMA member company programs are impacting students and teachers across the country,
through 14 national‐level programs that range from funding third‐party STEM education
initiatives, to supporting scholarships in STEM‐related fields, to sponsoring STEM‐related
competitions to foster interest in STEM fields. Additional STEM activities are being supported in
26 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, with a larger concentration of activities in states
with a deeper industry presence.
In total, the 24 PhRMA member companies and their foundations responding have invested
over $100 million in STEM education related initiatives since 2008, including awarding nearly
600 individual STEM education related grants. In 2012 alone, these PhRMA member companies
invested over $10 million in supporting STEM education efforts.
In addition to financial contributions, PhRMA member companies are also making significant
“in‐kind” contributions by leveraging the talents of nearly 4,500 industry employee volunteers,
who have collectively volunteered almost 27,000 hours over the past five years. Other in‐kind
contributions include equipment donations and the use of company laboratory facilities,
particularly at the K‐12 levels, at a time when public school budgets are shrinking.
A large majority (85%) of industry‐supported STEM education programs focus on the K‐12
levels and are aimed at improving the preparation of both students and teachers. This
suggests that PhRMA member companies are focused on systemic changes in the way STEM
education is taught in the U.S. by engaging younger students and early education teachers.
Over 30 PhRMA member programs are focusing on increasing diversity in STEM fields by
providing students of all backgrounds, particularly women and minorities, experience with
hands‐on, inquiry‐based scientific learning opportunities.
At a time when other countries are devoting increasing funds and developing strategies to build a 21st
Century STEM workforce to attract R&D investment and the economic benefits it brings, the U.S. cannot
afford to continue to lag behind its global competitors. Improving STEM education in the U.S. is an
extensive and long‐term, but necessary undertaking that requires a multi‐stakeholder approach. This
report is intended to provide insights into the efforts of just one sector, the innovative
biopharmaceutical sector, in improving U.S. STEM education.